Electronic Summer 2023 | Issue 55

State Legislative Update

By: Mark Peysakhovich, IPS Legislative Consultant

Key Behavioral Health Bills Passed During 2023 Spring Legislative Session

The Illinois General Assembly concluded its’ spring legislative session on May 26, 2023. The legislature approved a total of 566 bills, including 346 House bills and 220 Senate bills. The Illinois Psychiatric Society supported a number of key behavioral health measures that now go to the Governor to be signed into law. Here is a brief summary of key bills:

Senate Bill 57 - Behavioral Health Professional Loan Repayment Program

  • Fiscal Year 2024 allocation is $5 million.

  • Adds eligible professional categories, including LMFT, CRSS, and BA and MA-level professionals (core behavioral health degrees) to the program.

  • Raises funding levels based on outstanding debt reported by the program applicants and the need for key provider types.

  • State-operated psychiatric hospitals, substance use treatment facilities and behavioral health clinics that are licensed or certified by IDHS or HFS as eligible employment sites.

  • Provides that at least 30 percent of grants each fiscal year shall be allocated to minority applicants.

SB724 - Children's Behavioral Health Transformation

  • Implements recommendations from the Governor’s Behavioral Health Transformation Blueprint to improve current behavioral health services for children and make recommendations on how to better serve families.

Senate Bill 1913 - Telehealth Services

  • Makes Medicaid coverage of telehealth for behavioral health services permanent.

House Bill 1364 - 9-8-8 Task Force and CESSA Extension

  • Establishes the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Task Force. It will review data from the first year of 988 services and make recommendations for changes to improve 9-8-8 operations.

  • Extends the CESSA Act’s effective date to July 1, 2024, providing additional time for the Statewide Advisory Committee and Regional Advisory Committees to continue the implementation work.

  • Requires DMH to submit quarterly reports on its progress implementing the Act.

  • Includes language confirming that the involuntary commitment provision barring 590 responders from participating in the involuntary commitment of an individual and extends the effective date July 1, 2024.

House Bill 2847 - Mental Health Care Access

  • Mandates private insurance coverage of an annual mental health and wellness visit be provided at no cost to the patient.

House Bill 3230 - Strengthening and Transforming Behavioral Health Crisis Care in Illinois Act

  • Mandates an independent third-party expert cost analysis for a comprehensive 988 crisis response system. Expert will identify funding opportunities.

  • DMH to examine the definition of Engagement Specialist under the Crisis Care Continuum Program to consider additional (lived) experience criteria, including parents or family members of individuals with behavioral health disorders and/or coming from an underserved or disadvantaged demographic group.

  • Allows clinical discretion to establish the level of response (one or two-person team) depending on the nature of the call.

  • Requires HFS and DMH to engage a stakeholder group for purposes of coordinating crisis services for children and youth.